Avoidable blindness

This is the reality facing millions of people around the world today. Globally, there are 43 million people living with blindness and 295 million people living with moderate-to-severe visual impairment. Out of these, a huge 77% is completely preventable or treatable.

If they had been able to access the eye care they need, like a simple cataract surgery or a pair of glasses – the kind of care so many of us take for granted – they would be able to see clearly today.

With your help and the support of our amazing volunteers, we can not only give people their sight back today, but help change the quality of ophthalmologists and build a lasting legacy of quality eye care that will ensure no one goes needlessly blind tomorrow.

Back in 2017 The Lancet Global Health reported that avoidable blindness was set to triple by 2050, reaching a shocking 115 million people. However, the latest data published in March 2021 shows that by 2050 there is likely to be around 60 million people living with blindness.

This is a huge reduction in the original estimate, demonstrating how the hard work of the global eye care community – including Orbis and our volunteers, partners and supporters – is helping to save sight every day.

Most of the time what it takes to help someone see is relatively straightforward - removing a cataract, prescribing glasses, providing access to antibiotics or raising awareness of good eye care can be enough to prevent a lifetime of blindness.

The challenge is building lasting structures that can deliver the type of care needed for generations to come. At Orbis, we know the only way to make a real difference is to strengthen health systems so people can access the quality eye care they deserve when they need it.

Fortunately, the eye health community has a proven track record of getting results.

And with your support and our amazing volunteers, we can not only give people their sight back today, but we can also help build a lasting legacy of quality eye care – ensuring no one goes needlessly blind tomorrow.